Velobuild VB-R-218

[Jimin]

What have I missed? Have VB stopped selling these frames?

Feels like I have some reading to do

[Sebastian]

Yes. They're only selling off leftover stock. No explanation as to why.

[Sebastian]

Aliexpress is still full of Dogma F and Grevil clones, though. It seems there’s a particularly high quantity of Pinarello clones from many different sources. I often wonder why? Is it just desirability and that they’re selling well? Or does Pinarello maybe not pay the necessary license fees for exclusivity or chooses to have that license expire at some point and the factory sells off the molds to third parties? Because it seems that everyone and their mother in China has a mold lying around for the Dogma F12 and the Dogma F. 

[Sebastian]

BTW what tire set up is everyone using?

Vittoria Corsa all the way. Except for my tubular wheels. I’m using Tufo tubs in 28mm. They can be used with sealant and plugged like tubeless tires. So they’re very convenient. And despite Tufo having a bad rep for slow and harsh tires, I found that that’s a myth of the past when people were riding 21mm tubs at 140psi (if it ever was true). If you use them at sensible pressures they’re actually quite supple and not really any slower than my Cotton Corsas. Plus Tufo’s gravel tubeless tires are hands down the best I’ve ever used. In a sensible price range at least.

[Serge_K]

Aliexpress is still full of Dogma F and Grevil clones, though. It seems there’s a particularly high quantity of Pinarello clones from many different sources. I often wonder why? Is it just desirability and that they’re selling well? Or does Pinarello maybe not pay the necessary license fees for exclusivity or chooses to have that license expire at some point and the factory sells off the molds to third parties? Because it seems that everyone and their mother in China has a mold lying around for the Dogma F12 and the Dogma F. 

I suspect the same reason why Rolex is the most copied watch brand. Pinarello shapes are both highly desirable and recognizable. The brand was bought by LVMH years ago. They know their branding/marketing, that's literally how they make their money. Vuitton bags the most copied, LVMH brand. Seems fitting that Pinarello would be the most copied bike brand too

[blackpyros]

Pinarello shapes are both highly desirable and recognizable.

Exactly this. It's one of the few known brands out there that doesn't look like everything else. Their curved shapes - you either love or hate, there is nothing between. But even the most dogged haters must admit - they are at least unique.

[Queen of Skulls]

Vittoria Corsa all the way. Except for my tubular wheels. I’m using Tufo tubs in 28mm. They can be used with sealant and plugged like tubeless tires. So they’re very convenient. And despite Tufo having a bad rep for slow and harsh tires, I found that that’s a myth of the past when people were riding 21mm tubs at 140psi (if it ever was true). If you use them at sensible pressures they’re actually quite supple and not really any slower than my Cotton Corsas. Plus Tufo’s gravel tubeless tires are hands down the best I’ve ever used. In a sensible price range at least.

 Ya, I been looking at all the bike pics seems everyone is doing either the corsa or the Continental Grand Prix 5000

[Queen of Skulls]

Exactly this. It's one of the few known brands out there that doesn't look like everything else. Their curved shapes - you either love or hate, there is nothing between. But even the most dogged haters must admit - they are at least unique.

The UCI can go to hell for a lot of reasons. but the biggest is the standards/guidelines for race bikes. These extremely limit creativity of road bikes. its like the cafe standards in the US for cars/trucks... its the reason we have these huge trucks that are a ton more dangerous.. And so these limited styles get past down to all the other levels of bikes. pinerellos like to push design boundaries. look at a lot of the mtb designs. they get interesting. If the UCI doesnt change standards. I fear we are going to see a significate drop off of interest in road bike as a sport. I already see a drop in the number of road riders in my area.

[Sebastian]

 Ya, I been looking at all the bike pics seems everyone is doing either the corsa or the Continental Grand Prix 5000

And for good reason, I might add. If you're looking for max bang for the buck, I found that Schwalbe's Ones (a tad more durable) and Pro Ones (super fast but fragile) are often cheaper than Conti and Vittoria and are still on par with the best. Pricing might depend on your country and distributor, though. Same goes for the Tufo Calibra Plus. That's one hell of a fast and light tire, but a bit fragile. I'm based in Germany, so German tire brands are cheap here and so is Tufo, being a Czech brand (which is actually made in Czech Republic in contrast to all the others who are actually producing in the Far East).

[Serge_K]

And for good reason, I might add. If you're looking for max bang for the buck, I found that Schwalbe's Ones (a tad more durable) and Pro Ones (super fast but fragile) are often cheaper than Conti and Vittoria and are still on par with the best. Pricing might depend on your country and distributor, though. Same goes for the Tufo Calibra Plus. That's one hell of a fast and light tire, but a bit fragile. I'm based in Germany, so German tire brands are cheap here and so is Tufo, being a Czech brand (which is actually made in Czech Republic in contrast to all the others who are actually producing in the Far East).

The conti gp5000 is made in Asia? The compound is so special and pricing so high, I always assumed it was made in Europe, if not Germany?

[Sebastian]

Conti’s premium tires are made in Germany. The GP5000 specifically says so on the tire I believe. The lower tier tires are from Asia. Vittoria used to be made in Italy but now they’re all from Thailand. Schwalbes are made in Asia as well I believe. Not sure about their top ranking tires. I’m not saying this is a bad thing in terms of quality. For me it’s rather about supporting my local economy, wages and working conditions and maybe for the stuff to have a slightly smaller carbon footprint.

[BeR]

Correct, I have just bought 2 GP tires and It is written "handmade in Germany". I hope that they will be more puncture resistance than the P zero race even if Rolling Resistance says no.

[rasch]

Shwalbe one, gp5000 or vitoria corsa depending on the bike and on the costs at each moment. but I always buy them below the 40€/tire mark. I think more than that is actually "trying to be pro when I'm not".
Then I use some TPU tube whatever is cheap

[blackpyros]

I use Hutchinson Challenger 700Cx28.

[Queen of Skulls]

Shwalbe one, gp5000 or vitoria corsa depending on the bike and on the costs at each moment. but I always buy them below the 40€/tire mark. I think more than that is actually "trying to be pro when I'm not".
Then I use some TPU tube whatever is cheap

I got some tpu as spares should I just go all tpu?  over the standard rubber?